Part 34:

Latha, the happiest person in the world. She couldn't control her happiness. She wanted to jump in happiness. She wanted to tell everything to her husband. But nothing is happening. She looked at three ladies of her family. Both her mother and buaji smiling and thanking God for the sisters' union. Latha smiled mockingly seeing them in this condition

'I never knew my family is this easy to deal. Such a fools they are. Few sugar coated words and work done! Unbelievable' Latha thought.

Her trance broken with buaji words

"Whatever happened is happened. Let's not talk about that. I'm feeling so relaxed after knowing Latha wanted to teach Titaliya"

"Why not buaji, after all she is my little sister."

"I know NandKishore... that's why I'm feeling so relaxed" buaji turned to Khushi and said "Dekho NandKishore... you have to learn each and everything from your sister. Don't irritate her and be a good girl"

Khushi nodded her head smiling. After talking for some more time, everyone went to their rooms to take rest. Using this time, Latha rushed to her room to talk with her husband. She still couldn't believe that Khushi came into her trap that easily.

"Hello... Oh god... do you know what happened here? Khushi made everything easy for us" Latha excitingly shouted in the phone

"What's the matter Latha? You are sounding so excited!" asked Abhinav

"Of course I'm excited. If you know the news you too will feel the same" with that Latha told everything about Khushi and her argument in train and later Khushi's sorry and all. She explained everything with so much excitement.

"That's really good to hear Latha. But be careful. You have only one week time to take control on them, before ASR comes there. Make sure that Khushi listens to you whatever you say. Don't lose this chance Latha. This is the last chance for us to get whatever is ours. We have to stop this marriage, we have to do it at any cost. We can't lose this" He said and thought 'I can't lose this chance. I can't let khushi to get married to another guy. I can't let other man to come in my way'

"Oh don't worry... I will do what I have to do. I need to act like I'm guiding that dumb girl and I have to act as I'm teaching her good things. But indirectly I will teach opposite to her. She became so dumb that she couldn't even recognize what is good and bad. I never knew she become this much stupid. Don't worry, I will take care of things here"

"Good. Then I will drop the call. I need to go to office and take care of things. Bye"

Both Latha and Abhinav dropped the call. Latha sat in her room grinning like an idiot, not noticing Khushi looking at her.

'Sure Jiji, don't worry, we will take care of things here before our men comes here' Khushi said to herself and left from there hearing her mobile ringing.

Seeing the 'unknown number' Khushi got tensed for a second. But remembering security guard's words and her sister's words, her face turned into anger.

"Hello... who is this?"

"Huh??? you didn't save my number? This is not fair Mrs. Raizada. It hurts... ahhh..." he said and laughed evilly

Khushi closed her eyes in irritation "If you want to talk then you better stop talking rubbish and come to point" her voice is low but firm

"Ahaan... attitude... good good... No, I don't want to talk. But I want to ask. What are you doing? Didn't I say to leave those people? Didn't I say that they will hurt you badly? Didn't I say not to get married to that Arrogant man? Then what are you doing? I mean what did you decide about stopping this marriage Mrs. Raizada?"

"Can I ask you one thing?" asked Khushi controlling her anger

"Sure"

"Are you out of your mind?" her question is straight

"What? How dare you?" he is shocked

"No... this is not about my dare. I'm just confirming about your mental status"

"Watch your words" he gritted his teeth

"Don't get angry Mr. wellwisher. I'm just asking because at one time you are calling me Mrs. Raizada and at the same time you are asking me to stop this marriage. How should I understand this? If I'm already Mrs. Raizada then whose wedding you are talking? Or If I'm going to get married then why are you calling me Mrs. Raizada? Look, I have so much work here. If you are calling me for timepass or teasing me, then please let me do my work and don't waste my work or time. I don't have time for your pranks. I know, you must be appointed by Arnav ji to tease me"

"What?" Pankaj is confused after hearing Khushi's words.

"What what? I know, you are appointed by Arnav ji. Go and tell to him that you are succeeded in this. And also tell him that the prank he planned to scare me won't work. Tell him that, I can take care if anything happened to me after marriage. Tell him that I will have my husband with me to deal with people and situations. Oh... how much I got tensed thinking you are some random guy... you scared me unnecessarily. Wait, I will tell to Arnav ji about you, then he will punish you. And..." Khushi continued her blabbering, irritating Pankaj to the core

"Stop it... I said stop it... STOP YOUR BLABBERING" Pankaj shouted on the other side making khushi stop talking "What did you say? Arnav appointed me? ME? How dare you? What do you think about me? What do you think about you and your so called Arnav ji? Huh? How dare you?" Pankaj lost his cool after hearing Khushi mentioning him as Arnav's damn employee "I never knew you are such a stupid girl for trusting him blindly. I'm telling you that you will get hurt there. Mark my words... you will be..."

"JIJIIIIIIII" suddenly Khushi shouted big while closing her phone with her hands, making everyone come out from their rooms. She got an idea in her mind and implemented it immediately.

"What's wrong Khushi? Why are you shouting like that?" Latha came out showing her fake love and concern

Khushi silently kept her phone in Latha's hands and signed her to talk to the person on the phone

"Hello..." Latha talked hesitatingly thinking the person might be Arnav

"Oh... What do you think yourself? If you change your voice, I can't recognise and will drop the call thinking it's not you but some other? What's wrong with you girl? Why can't you understand that I'm trying to help you?" Pankaj continued talking not recognising the voice.

This side, Latha stood in her place after recognizing the voice. She looked at Khushi, who is looking at her with curious and scared eyes, she is on verge of crying and other two women who are looking at her with confused and curious eyes. She gulped and try to concentrate on the call. She again looked at Khushi who poked her with moisten eyes and signed her to talk something. Khushi pleaded her with innocent eyes. Sighing deeply, Latha nodded her head as assuring Khushi. She gulped again, knowing with whom she is going to talk now.

"Hello mister... what do you want?"

"Oh... as if you don't know me and you don't know what I'm asking you or telling you"

"First you better know, with whom you are talking. Whom do you want?" Latha raised her voice, seeing her family's relaxing faces. 'this is the best time to gain their trust' thought Latha. So, she changed her voice into strict one and said again "If you don't have any work, then better search for it. Stop calling to this number. If you do this again, you better get ready to face the police. I won't leave you for harassing my family" with that Latha dropped the call. She turned to Khushi. Before she says anything, she was hugged by Khushi very tightly.

"Thank you so much Jiji... I'm so scared with this caller. He is saying so many things. Thank you so much. What would I have done without you. I think it will better if I tell Arnav ji about this caller now. I shouldn't hide this anymore" said Khushi breaking the hug

"What? No... no... you shouldn't make him tensed about this Khushi. He is a businessman and he must have so many important works. You shouldn't disturb him or make him worried about all these simple things. You have to learn how to deal with the things by your ownself"

"But Jiji..."

"Don't worry, I'm here, right? I will teach you everything. For now, leave all these and let's sit in hall. We have to list out what we have to do before marriage" Latha looked at buaji and said "What do you say Buaji?"

"Yes, you are right Latha. Titaliya you better listen to your sister. She said she will help you, then why are you thinking to trouble Arnav babua about all these silly things? You should learn betia. Hai re NandKishore... when will this girl grow up?" with that Buaji went to Kitchen to check with some work.

After that everyone sat in living room and listed out what to do and what is to be done at first. They first listed the things that they have to offer to god, then to groom's family then relatives and then food items, then decorations.

"First let's buy things for the poojas. We have to talk with Pandit ji about all these things once before we buy. I need to confirm everything" Said Buaji

"Sure Buaji. I will call Arnav ji and ask the number" Khushi said

"Once I confirm things, I want you and Latha go to market and buy things"

"But Jiji, Khushi doesn't know all these things! I mean she never buy these things alone, she doesn't know which one is good which one is not" Garima expressed her worry

"Amma... I can buy... I will bring good things only" Khushi said pouting

"Oho... Garima... why are you getting worried? Latha is there to guide Khushi, after all she needs to learn things" Buaji turned to Khushi and said "Don't irritate Latha much. Learn things from her and purchase the quality ones"

Khushi nodded her head politely.

After that, with Buaji's words... Khushi took the chance to implement her plan. She made Latha 'teach' her about 'good things'. Whatever Khushi wants to or should buy, she always acted as she doesn't know how to and what to buy. Seeing her not able to do any work, Latha came forward to 'teach' her sister, while smiling mockingly inside. On the other side, Khushi, not giving any chance to Latha to get doubt about her behavior, she gave all works to Latha to complete.

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"Jiji... today I will cook food for us" she stressed on 'I'

"What? What do you mean YOU will cook??" Latha asked

"Yes Jiji... till now whenever I cooked, Amma or buaji helped me with salt and spices. From today onwards, I will cook everything by myself. I want to learn cooking" Khushi said exciting

"What do you mean by amma or buaji helped you till now? Don't you know how much salt and spices to put in dishes?" Latha asked worriedly

"No, I don't know. Amma or Buaji never let me do that part of cooking. They even checked whether the dishes were cooked nicely or not. I don't even know that. I only know about potato being cooked, not other vegetables" Khushi said sadly. But immediately her face lit up and she said with excitement "No problem, today onwards I will cook by myself. After all you are there to teach me. hai na jiji?"

"Yes, I will teach you. But..." Latha said, not having idea about how to react to this. But Khushi didn't let her to complete her sentence. Khushi dragged Latha to home after completing their work outside.

After coming from the shopping, Khushi cooked food with much salt and less spices. Latha coughed like hell after having first bite.

"How is it jiji?" Khushi asked exciting

"Is this food? How did you prepare? Can't you make it a simple dish like this? What's wrong with you?" Latha shouted her lungs out.

"I said to you not to cook Khushi. Why are you wasting groceries with your horrible cooking? Didn't I say, I will add salt and spices? What to do with you?" Garima said irritatingly.

"No problem... I will repair it again. You all wait for some time" Khushi said in low voice sounding like crying.

Not wanting to taste horrible food again, Latha said "NO need. I will cook for now. From tomorrow onwards, you try to cook only one dish. Remaining food we will prepare. For now, forget about this cooking"

Hearing Latha's stern voice, Khushi ran to her room and closed the door.

"Oh God... what did you do to her Buaji? You spoiled her with your pampering. I don't know, how will she manage in her In-Law's house" saying that Latha went to kitchen leaving smiling Buaji and Garima. Latha is frustrated with this cooking and wedding thing. She is frustrated and famished after their little clumsy shopping. 'If I go to shopping alone, then I would have completed these three days shopping in one day. But with this Khushi, everything is waste of time and money. We went in the morning and came in the evening after buying only 5 or 6 items? Unbelievable' Latha thought and started her cooking, cursing Khushi more

After confirming that Latha is busy in her work, both the elders went to Khushi room to see her lying on bed and doing something with her phone. Sensing someone on the door, Khushi hid her mobile and looked at the door to see her mother and buaji.

"Bua ji?" Khushi whispered

"Everything is under control Titaliya. nice work" buaji whispered and hified with Khushi.

"Sorry buaji and amma, I need to do this with Jiji, I can't ignore her or jijaji now. I need to be careful about my marriage" Khushi apologised

"No Khushi... whatever you are doing is correct. Carry on, but be careful" Garima kissed her forehead.

Then all the three ladies went outside with Buaji dragging Khushi out and saying loudly "Stop it Khushi. How many times I said to learn things fast? You wasted so much of food. I never knew you will be this irresponsible. See, because of you Latha has to do work" Buaji continued scolding Khushi, which made Latha over excited. Latha forgot about her strain listening how much scolding Khushi getting from her elders. With that excitement, Latha made extra dishes to impress her elders not knowing that is what she is going to do till Khushi's marriage.

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After that day, Latha became an unannounced maid in that house. Khushi made sure that Latha did all the works by herself, seeing Khushi as worthless person. Whenever Latha did something, Garima or buaji praised her too much, which made Latha proud and see Khushi in low light. Everyday, after completing all the shopping, Latha did all the cooking. One reason is not wanting to stay hungry all the night and another is wanting to show Khushi more useless before everyone. In all these, Latha never got doubt on Khushi. Latha thought, Khushi is really much worthless. She just wanted to prove Khushi useless before Raizadas. She was waiting for that day to come... In all these excitement and work, Latha got little time to talk with her husband, who was really busy in his work because of his boss - ASR.

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Night - RM

"Arnav ji..."

Arnav closed his eyes hearing her voice. It's almost 5 days she left to Lucknow. Even though they talked, he missed her, missing her. He is working like a machine to go to Lucknow and hug her tight and hide her in his embrace. He sat there with closed eyes

"Arnav ji...? Are you there? Why aren't you talking?" Khushi asked

"I miss you..." That is the only thing he said

"Arnav ji..." Khushi too missing him, but she consoled her mind and heart telling that this wait is only for few days. But after hearing his confession, her feelings came out running. "Me too..." she said in low voice

"What you too?"

"Me too missing you..."

"But I'm sure, I'm missing you more. You can't miss me as I'm missing you" Arnav teased her

"Huh?? This is not fair" Khushi pouted

"I wish I am there with you to see your pout. I am really missing you..."

"Just matter of few days Arnav ji"

"I know..."

Both remained silent after that, just hearing to each other breath. Arnav wanted to tell Khushi about how he is controlling Abhinav. At the other side, Khushi wanted to tell about how she is controlling her sister. But both stayed silent not wanting to make others tensed.

"I love you Arnav ji... Please come fast... I'm waiting" at last Khushi said the words, which she is waiting to utter

"Khushi...?" Arnav was surprised hearing her confession

"Please..." Khushi didn't want to discuss on this. She feels extremely shy to hear Arnav's teasings.

Understanding her shyness, Arnav said "I love you too sweetheart. Just few days, please wait for me. I too can't wait more to take you in my arms and kiss you till you feel dizzy. I'm dying to be with you. Just few days... Love you..." Arnav said closing his eyes, imagining their kiss.

Khushi also closed her eyes, imagining same like Arnav. They sat without talking for some more time and then disconnected the call, not able to control sadness thinking about their staying in different places. They both missing each other...

...to be continued

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